ST. PAUL — Wildlife managers plan to boost the whitetail deer population in several parts of southeastern Minnesota while holding deer numbers steady or bringing them down in certain other zones in the region.

The Department of Natural Resources says the decision reflects the outcome of a public process that will affect deer hunting regulations out over much of the state over the next several years.

The DNR says that with the exception of two far southeastern permit areas, deer management to achieve population goals in many permit areas will require conservative harvest strategies this coming fall that likely will include a one-deer bag limit.

Deer densities in the zones that include Rochester and the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area will be kept roughly the same.